Panel of Real Estate Industry Experts to Offer "Women in the Workplace: Growing in Every Generation"
NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - April 19, 2017) - The Urban Land Institute Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) is pleased to announce the third in a series of informative discussions titled "Women in the Workplace: Growing in Every Generation." Participants will hear from a five-member panel of thoughtful and experienced voices that will speak to each generation's unique perspective in the ever-evolving real estate and building industry.
The event, which will engage participants in a robust conversation on how cross-generational expertise can have a powerful impact on the future of the real estate and building industry, is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 26 at Gensler, located at 4675 MacArthur Court in Newport Beach.
According to a survey of 34,000 workers conducted by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.org, millennial women are not experiencing inviting horizons in the workplace with the survey finding that 23 percent of millennial women believing that their gender has prevented them from getting ahead in their careers.
Speaking as a traditionalist (born before 1946), Nina Gruen, author of Believe It or Not: The Challenges Facing One Professional Woman a Half Century Ago, says: "In the 70's and 80's, I established close relationships with my competitors who also provided land use and real estate consulting for clients. We often shared insights, not only on how we approached client problems but also on how we ran our businesses. Mentoring younger professionals became a primary objective for us."
That perspective uniquely informs the practices of future generations, such as those experienced by Nairi Siddiqi who hails from Generation Y, which includes Millennials and those born between 1982-2002: "My generation graduated in a difficult economic time and a competitive job market, especially for those entering the real estate industry. As a result of these factors, dedication to being in the real estate industry, including expanding skill sets as necessary, diligence in finding opportunities in the real estate industry, and being proactive in reaching out to others to make connections in the real estate industry have been crucial to the advancement of my career in the real estate industry."
The panel will be moderated by Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs and will feature distinguished guests Noelle Steele, Gen Z; Nairi Siddiqi, an Associate at Stuart Kane LLP who will represent the Millennial generation; Gen-xer Anne Bretana, Senior Associate, IIDA, Gensler; Baby Boomer Dr. Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona; and traditionalist Nina Gruen, Executive Vice President, Principal Sociologist.
All of the panelists will take questions and offer their thoughts on how to effectively weave generational knowledge and expertise across generations to continue to advance innovations in the real estate and building industry.
"We love the opportunity to bring such incredible talents and expertise into one room and have it shared so freely with others, because we all benefit from the experiences of others, especially in the competitive and always-change real estate and building markets," said Christine Obnial, a Millennial and Women's Leadership Initiative Executive Committee member.
The Urban Land Institute's Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) was established to promote the advancement of women, throughout their careers, as leaders within the real estate industry. Goal was to increase the number of women who serve in leadership positions; increase the visibility of women leaders and increase the number of women who are active and support the development of young women members as leaders in ULI and in their professions.
To learn more about the Urban Land Institute Orange County / Inland Empire event and tickets, call (714) 342-2965 or visit www.orangecounty.uli.org

The forecast, released today, projects healthy GDP (gross domestic product) growth; moderating employment growth; relative high but moderating commercial real estate volumes; continued commercial price appreciation; rent growth; positive returns (but at lower rates); relatively stable vacancy/occupancy rates for all commercial real estate sectors, and continued growth in single-family housing starts.
While encouraging, the survey results suggest restrained optimism, said ULI leader and survey participant William Maher, director of North American strategy and research at LaSalle Investment Management. "The latest survey of U.S. real estate economists showed a marked increase in expected economic measures, most likely due to President Trump's proposals to reform the tax code, reduce regulatory burdens, and invest in infrastructure," he said. "However, while greater job and income growth will be positive for U.S. real estate markets, forecasters were reluctant to upgrade real estate fundamentals or returns. New supply in the pipeline along with higher interest rates are likely keeping real estate economists cautious, but more likely realistic as uncertainty about future growth remains a concern."
Among the survey's key findings for commercial real estate:
Among the survey's key findings for major economic indicators:
The market survey is the most recent in a series of polls conducted by ULI to gauge sentiment among economists and analysts about the direction of the real estate industry. The next Real Estate Consensus Forecast is scheduled for release in October 2017.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/real-estate-economists-predict-moderate-growth-for-the-economy-and-commercial-real-estate-industry-through-2019-says-new-urban-land-institute-semi-annual-market-survey-300442038.html

"The development community is addressing the challenge of stormwater management with creative solutions that are not only conserving water, but also adding value and appeal to real estate projects across the nation," said ULI's Urban Resilience Program Director Katharine Burgess, who directed the research.
Harvesting the Value of Water points out that while using green infrastructure to capture stormwater is not new, what is new is that a rising number of local governments are creating coordinated citywide green infrastructure networks including both public and private properties. Many real estate developers are responding to new regulations by incorporating the requirements into their business models, it notes. "Whether by increasing potential development yield, introducing tangible amenities for residents, reducing operating costs, or building on a broader placemaking strategy, innovative stormwater management strategies can create value and contribute to the quality of life and resilience in cities," the report says.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees federal standards for water quality and management, local approaches to stormwater management vary widely due to different market conditions, annual rainfalls and climate challenges, notes the report. However, despite the differences in how stormwater is managed, several common themes are emerging from green infrastructure approaches that involve the real estate community. These include:
Harvesting the Value of Water was published with a grant from the Kresge Foundation, which is providing generous support for ULI's work in promoting sustainable, resilient and healthy communities.
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-urban-land-institute-report-harvesting-the-value-of-water-explores-creative-use-of-green-infrastructure-in-real-estate-developments-to-manage-stormwater-enhance-property-values-300450127.html

Panel of Real Estate Industry Experts to Offer "Women in the Workplace: Growing in Every Generation"
-- The Urban Land Institute Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) is pleased to announce the third in a series of informative discussions titled "Women in the Workplace: Growing in Every Generation."Participants will hear from a five-member panel of thoughtful and experienced voices that will speak to each generation's unique perspective in the ever-evolving real estate and building industry.The event, which will engage participants in a robust conversation on how cross-generational expertise can have a powerful impact on the future of the real estate and building industry, is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 26at Gensler, located at 4675 MacArthur Court in Newport Beach.According to a survey of 34,000 workers conducted by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.org (https://www.wsj.com/articles/millennial-women-face-familiar-obstacles-at-work-1474963261), millennial women are not experiencing inviting horizons in the workplace with the survey finding that 23 percent of millennial women believing that their gender has prevented them from getting ahead in their careers.Speaking as a traditionalist (born before 1946), Nina Gruen, author of Believe It or Not: The Challenges Facing One Professional Woman a Half Century Ago ( https://www.amazon.com/ Believe-Not- Challenges-Professiona... ), says: "In the 70's and 80's, I established close relationships with my competitors who also provided land use and real estate consulting for clients. We often shared insights, not only on how we approached client problems but also on how we ran our businesses. Mentoring younger professionals became a primary objective for us."That perspective uniquely informs the practices of future generations, such as those experienced by Nairi Siddiqi who hails from Generation Y, which includes Millennials and those born between1982-2002): "My generation graduated in a difficult economic time and a competitive job market, especially for those entering the real estate industry. As a result of these factors, dedication to being in the real estate industry, including expanding skill sets as necessary, diligence in finding opportunities in the real estate industry, and being proactive in reaching out to others to make connections in the real estate industry have been crucial to the advancement of my career in the real estate industry."The panel will be moderated by Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs and will feature distinguished guests Noelle Steele, Gen Z; Nairi Siddiqi, an Associate at Stuart Kane LLP who will represent the Millennial generation; Gen-xer Anne Bretana, Senior Associate, IIDA, Gensler; Baby Boomer Dr. Soraya Coley, President, Cal Poly Pomona; and traditionalist Nina Gruen, Executive Vice President, Principal Sociologist.All of the panelists will take questions and offer their thoughts on how to effectively weave generational knowledge and expertise across generations to continue to advance innovations in the real estate and building industry."We love the opportunity to bring such incredible talents and expertise into one room and have it shared so freely with others, because we all benefit from the experiences of others, especially in the competitive and always-change real estate and building markets," said Christine Obnial, a Millennial and Women's Leadership Initiative Executive Committee member.The Urban Land Institute's Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) was established to promote the advancement of women, throughout their careers, as leaders within the real estate industry. Goal was to increase the number of women who serve in leadership positions; increase the visibility of women leaders and increase the number of women who are active and support the development of young women members as leaders in ULI and in their professions.To learn more about the Urban Land Institute Orange County / Inland Empire event and tickets, call (714) 342-2965 or visit http://www.orangecounty.uli.org

A collaborative effort announced today between the Urban Land Institute Greenprint Center for Building Performance (Greenprint) and Measurabl will improve sustainability and building performance tracking for more than 20,000 commercial buildings covering 3.7 billion square feet around the globe. These properties constitute the collective portfolio of Greenprint members and Measurabl subscribers, who together represent the world’s largest database of sustainability-focused commercial real estate owners and investors.
Greenprint is a global consortium of leading real estate owners, investors, and strategic partners committed to improving the environmental performance of the real estate industry through value-enhancing strategies. In the past 6 years, Greenprint members have decreased energy consumption by 13.7 percent, greenhouse gas emissions by 16.5 percent, and water use by 10.9 percent, saving $42 million in utility costs in this past year alone. Measurabl is the most widely adopted sustainability software for real estate. Greenprint and Measurabl’s work supports the principle that what is not measured cannot be managed.
“Greenprint has been working with the real estate industry for nearly eight years to help our members track, report and analyze building performance to turn data into action. The industry’s data requirements continue to evolve; to that end, we are pleased to partner with a software provider that can innovate to meet the industry’s needs,' said Greenprint Executive Director Helen Gurfel. “As a signatory to the United Nation’s Paris Climate Accord through the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, Greenprint and its members are committed to working with the industry to promote transparency and utilize data to drive investment decisions.”
Greenprint members include industry leaders such as PGIM Real Estate, ProLogis, LaSalle Investment Management, and CalPERS, one of the world’s largest pension funds. These members add over 1.5 billion square feet to the more than 2 billion pre-existing Measurabl users, including CBRE Global Investors, Boston Properties, and USAA Real Estate Company.
“We’re excited to be selected as Greenprint’s new software partner after a thorough global diligence process. It’s a testament not only to the quality of our platform but our shared mission of empowering organizations with investment grade data and sustainability solutions. We look forward to advancing this mission,” said Matt Ellis, Measurabl’s Founder and CEO.
The Greenprint-Measurabl collaboration was established in part to reduce the complexity of sustainability data collection, management, and reporting. Moving forward, the extraordinary combined scale of Greenprint and Measurabl will provide the real estate industry a range of unique benefits including investment grade sustainability benchmarks for buildings and portfolios, as well as incomparable insight into relative performance benchmarks and trends.
Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption, 25 percent of water consumption, and 33 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the built environment has a key role to play in improving sustainability and mitigating climate change. The new Greenprint-Measurabl partnership will ensure that Greenprint members, who collectively manage over a $1 trillion in assets, have the most advanced data collection and reporting tools available.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has nearly 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About the ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance
The ULI Greenprint Center for Building Performance is a worldwide alliance of leading real estate owners, investors, and strategic partners committed to improving the environmental performance of the global real estate industry through value enhancing strategies. Through measurement, benchmarking, knowledge sharing, and the implementation of best practices Greenprint and its members strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030. Greenprint is a research center within the ULI Center for Sustainability, which also oversees ULI’s Tenant Energy Optimization Program and Urban Resilience Program. For more information, please visit uli.org/greenprint.
About Measurabl
Measurabl is the world’s most widely adopted, fastest growing sustainability software for the built environment. More than 20,000 properties representing 3.7BN square feet across 35 countries use Measurabl to measure, manage, and improve their sustainability performance. Measurabl gives companies the ability to automatically collect building data, manage, benchmark, and report sustainability performance, and identify energy and water efficiency opportunities. Learn more about Measurabl at http://www.measurabl.com.

As the largest of ULI's events, and the real estate industry's premier gathering, the Fall Meeting routinely draws internationally renowned land use and urban development experts, including commercial developers, finance executives, economic development specialists, architects, urban planners, property owners and managers, real estate consultants, public officials, academics and property advisers.
Real estate session topics include challenges and opportunities presented by technology advancements, demographic shifts, urbanization, changing economic drivers, transportation and other infrastructure needs, and environmental concerns. The meeting will highlight successful business strategies used by rising stars and experienced professionals to thrive in the rapidly changing industry. It will also present leaders and innovators demonstrating the most important new trends and places in Southern California, from DTLA (the Downtown Los Angeles neighborhood) to Silicon Beach and throughout the region.
Los Angeles was named one of this year's top five cities in the United States for investment and development by the 2017 edition of Emerging Trends in Real Estate, the annual industry forecast co-published by ULI and PwC. The report cites the city's transformation into a technology center, the aggregation of research universities, and the continued development of its mass transit system as factors in its high rating. It also notes that the local real estate market is still considered to be on the upswing, drawing national and global investors.
The meeting's Host Committee, which is responsible for providing input on programming and highlighting Los Angeles's considerable assets, is being chaired by longtime ULI leaders Robert Lowe, Sr., founding chairman of Lowe Enterprises, Inc., and Wayne Ratkovich, president of The Ratkovich Company.
"The Los Angeles region, founded on innovation and creativity, is a place where the future is alive and thriving," Lowe said. "With the Fall Meeting hosted here, ULI members have a valuable opportunity to share expertise and insights for improving community building around the world. Our city is leading the way with inspired and highly successful design and development. We are excited to explore these best practices at the meeting."
Ratkovich pointed to the massive redevelopment (nearly 80 buildings) that has occurred in the downtown area since 2011, which was the last time ULI's Fall Meeting was held in the Los Angeles. "The revitalization of the urban core has been nothing short of transformational," Ratkovich said. "However, the downtown's makeover is only one part of Los Angeles's renaissance. We look forward to showcasing the many projects throughout the area that are making the city more sustainable and livable."
ULI's widely acclaimed advisory services program has offered recommendations on urban growth-related issues in Los Angeles and the surrounding region on several occasions, including a panel that assisted the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Los Angeles Department of City Planning in 2011 on redevelopment strategies for the now-thriving Union Station site in the downtown area.
The 2017 Fall Meeting is made possible with generous support from numerous sponsors, including Cushman & Wakefield; Newmark Grubb Knight Frank; Lowe Enterprises; Allen Matkins; Hongkong Land; Eastdil Secured; HFF and UDR.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines, including more than 2,000 in the Asia Pacific region. For more information on ULI, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-worlds-top-real-estate-leaders-to-gather-in-los-angeles-for-the-urban-land-institutes-2017-fall-meeting-set-for-october-2326-at-the-los-angeles-convention-center-300463528.html

As a leading real estate broker in Tylertown and McComb, Mississippi, Doug Rushing Realty, Inc., is always looking for ways to improve the service the company offers to its customers. With this goal in mind, Alan and Blake Bridevaux have recently completed a course in timberland investing, which equipped them with the skills they need to evaluate the value of Mississippi timberland.
The goal of the Realtors Land Institute course is to give real estate professionals an awareness of what makes a good timberland investment. The real estate agents from Doug Rushing Realty, Inc. learned about factors affecting Mississippi timberland values, as well as how to measure timber inventory and value pre-merchantable pine plantations. The agents also learned about marketing timber and reforestation, which has given them an understanding of the timber industry. Finally, the course offered advice on the tax advantages of investment in timberland in Mississippi, as well as information about the most effective timberland investment strategies. This knowledge allows the local real estate agents to recognize good timberland investments and enables them to evaluate Mississippi land for current and future use.
The course is aimed at both seasoned land professionals and commercial real estate agents and includes everything they need to successfully conduct timberland transactions. Although neither agent is now qualified to become a forester, they have both gained knowledge that can help them guide Mississippi land investors who are looking to invest in Mississippi timberland. According to Doug Rushing Realty, Inc. "This course will help us do an even better job of directing our clients to the perfect piece of Mississippi land."
Mississippi residents and people looking to invest in this beautiful state now have the perfect place to turn. With guidance from the qualified professionals at Doug Rushing Realty, would-be owners of Mississippi timberland can be sure that they have all the information they need to find a profitable investment.
Operating in Tylertown and McComb, Mississippi, Doug Rushing Realty, Inc., brings more than four decades of experience and knowledge to your unique real estate needs. We provide not only our expertise of property and Mississippi and Louisiana real estate but also our practical knowledge. Our team of experienced local agents look forward to helping you find the perfect property that will both suit your needs and fit your budget.

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - November 30, 2016) - Trevor Gerszt, CEO of Goldco Precious Metals, the nation's number one provider of Gold IRAs, today announced a company-wide drive to support the Urban Land Institute of Los Angeles' 7th Annual Holiday Toy Drive.
"This is our second year participating in this great cause. Our employees wanted to give back and what better way to do so than by making the holidays extra-special for kids?" said Gerszt.
The Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit organization with almost 40,000 members worldwide, is a respected authority on urban planning, growth and development.
"As a dad, I know the importance children place on holidays and toys. I not only wanted to be part of it, I wanted my employees to have the opportunity to give back as well," said Gerszt.
The ULI toy drive is collecting new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls aged 2 - 18, and benefits two Los Angeles non‐profits:
A Place Called Home is a youth center in South Los Angeles that provides educational programs, counseling, mentoring and arts classes, with the goal of encouraging children to stay in school and go on to higher education and fulfilling jobs.
Little Tokyo Service Center, based in downtown Los Angeles, offers culturally sensitive social services and community development, as well as promoting the rich heritage of the ethnic community.
The toy drive will last through December 15. In addition to playthings, organizers are also asking for gift cards for teens, so they can purchase school supplies and clothing. For drop-off locations, contact the Urban Land Institute at (213) 221-7827.
Goldco Precious Metals, located in Los Angeles, CA, is a privately held retirement services firm that specializes in providing a range of retirement investment accounts including traditional gold IRAs, silver IRAs, as well as IRA and 401(k) rollovers and 403(b) rollovers.
Founded in 2006 by finance and precious metals authority Trevor Gerszt, Goldco also offers direct sales of precious metals coins and bullion to collectors and investors.